Monday, September 23, 2013

Group of 22 to Torre a Cona - Wow!

Yesterday was a different but good experience for me. I had never guided a group bigger than 6 before, and a friend asked me to guide this group of 22 for the day. His wife, Michele, was along as a sweep guide, and we had a set itinerary. It was still a challenge, as when I turned to see if the group was along, even if I could see a large group, it was not the entire group. It is pretty amazing how long a distance a group of 22 plus 2 guides takes up. It was still a fun day, but when I was done, I was pretty tired. We certainly had a couple of difficulties, but they were quite minor.

The place we had lunch, a swim, and a tour, Torre a Cona, is a beautiful spot that handles a group this size very well. Super views, great food, and nice people. One interesting piece was guiding the group through the city on the way back. The tour operator, Ola, asked if we could go by the Ponte Vecchio and Pitti Palace on the return. I certainly managed that, and it would have been pretty simple, but town is packed with people and there are the World Cycling Championships going on right now. So, a few detours, lots of people, and a large group.

All in all, a good day, and a great experience for me. I think I prefer a small group, but it is good to know I can make a large group work, and now have the experience to make it happen. Ciao.